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Mali rebels drop claim for independent state Mali rebels drop claim for independent state
(40 minutes later)
Tuareg-led rebels who seized the north of Mali in April said they have dropped their claims for a separate state after the rebellion was hijacked by Islamists linked to al-Qaida. Tuareg-led rebels who seized the north of Mali in April say they have dropped their claims for a separate state after the rebellion was hijacked by Islamists linked to al-Qaida.
The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and its former Islamist allies routed government forces in the west African country three months ago, taking control of a stretch of the Sahara larger than France.The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and its former Islamist allies routed government forces in the west African country three months ago, taking control of a stretch of the Sahara larger than France.
But MNLA's declaration of independence has been largely ignored, and since then the movement has been sidelined by better-armed Islamist groups whose goal is to impose sharia law across the whole of Mali.But MNLA's declaration of independence has been largely ignored, and since then the movement has been sidelined by better-armed Islamist groups whose goal is to impose sharia law across the whole of Mali.
"We are seeking cultural, political and economic independence but not secession," Ibrahim Ag Assaleh, a senior MNLA member, told Reuters by telephone on Sunday. "We are seeking cultural, political and economic independence but not secession," said Ibrahim Ag Assaleh, a senior MNLA member. "It would be something like Quebec," he added, referring to the French-speaking province in Canada recognised as having a special status.
"It would be something like Quebec," he added, referring to the French-speaking province in Canada recognised as having a special status. Hama Ag Mahmoud, an MNLA official based in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, said: "Independence has been our line since the start of the conflict but we are taking on board the view of the international community to resolve this crisis."
Hama Ag Mahmoud, a MNLA official based in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, told Reuters: "Independence has been our line since the start of the conflict but we are taking on board the view of the international community to resolve this crisis." Islamist groups including the al Qaida-linked Ansar Dine have carried out public whippings of alleged adulterers in north Mali and destroyed Unesco-listed shrines in Timbuktu, arguing they are un-Islamic.
Islamist groups including the al Qaida-linked Ansar Dine have carried out public whippings of alleged adulterers in the north Mali and destroyed Unesco-listed shrines in Timbuktu, arguing they are un-Islamic. An Ansar Dine spokesman, Sanda Ould Boumana, said he was not aware of any change in the MNLA position but added: "What I can tell you is that it is us who control the three regions of the north."
Contacted by telephone in Timbuktu, an Ansar Dine spokesman, Sanda Ould Boumana, said he was not aware of any change in the MNLA position but added: "What I can tell you is that it is us who control the three regions of the north."
Mali has been the first country in the region to be plunged into chaos as an indirect result of last year's civil war in Libya, from which heavy arms and fighters have spilled south since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.Mali has been the first country in the region to be plunged into chaos as an indirect result of last year's civil war in Libya, from which heavy arms and fighters have spilled south since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.
That bolstered the rebellion in Mali, prompting a coup on 22 March by government soldiers. But the coup backfired as rebels took it as a cue to make lightning advances through northern Mali in the days that followed. That bolstered the rebellion in Mali, prompting a coup on 22 March by government soldiers. The coup backfired as rebels took it as a cue to make lightning advances through northern Mali in the days that followed.
Moves to launch a foreign military intervention have been held back by divisions among the country's neighbours and a lack of proper government in Mali, whose caretaker civilian prime minister remains in Paris after being attacked by protesters in May.Moves to launch a foreign military intervention have been held back by divisions among the country's neighbours and a lack of proper government in Mali, whose caretaker civilian prime minister remains in Paris after being attacked by protesters in May.
Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, said this week that foreign intervention was probable "at one moment or another".Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, said this week that foreign intervention was probable "at one moment or another".
An African Union summit said on Friday that efforts were underway to find a political solution and that military action to take back the north was a last resort. An African Union summit said on Friday that efforts were under way to find a political solution and that military action to take back the north was a last resort.
Assaleh called on foreign powers to act faster to launch military action and reaffirmed that MNLA fighters – who have been forced out of major northern towns such as Gao and Timbuktu – would return. Assaleh called on foreign powers to act faster to launch military action and reaffirmed that MNLA fighters – who have been forced out of major northern towns such as Gao and Timbuktu – would return. "We will make war against the Islamists to the very last soldier. No matter how well they are armed, they are no match for our will," he said.
"We will make war against the Islamists to the very last soldier. No matter how well they are armed, they are no match for our will," he said.